Recordings from a hidden camera have been leaked, which were sent to the media by a person who signed as Petyo Velkov Petrov (b.r. - known by his nickname Pepi Euroto). In two series, videos have appeared concerning the European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva. The videos make it clear that she is present in the office of Pepi Euroto's "Eight Dwarfs", and the footage is dated January 13, 2020. At that time, Bulgaria had to send proposals for a European Prosecutor. They claim that two competitors of Georgieva should be removed with the help of Pepi Euroto. Are the recordings authentic… Andrey Yankulov, a senior legal expert at the Anti-Corruption Fund (ACF), spoke to FACTI.
- Mr. Yankulov, a second video has emerged, allegedly showing Petyo Euroto and Bulgarian European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva in a conversation in which they discuss assistance in appointing her to the position. One video, fine. You can keep quiet. But what does the second one show…
- It doesn't show anything different – it simply reveals additional details from the alleged conversation between the aforementioned individuals, which was apparently about the European Prosecutor's Office and the appointment of Bulgaria's representative to it.
- Should we expect a third one, in which the woman will also be seen… Because at the moment we only hear her voice… But the recording is from “camera 1“. And is there only one camera...?
- There is probably more than one camera in the room in question, but the reasons for not releasing a recording from another or other cameras could be very different. For example, another person was present during the meeting, whom those releasing the recordings do not want to reveal, who is not covered by “camera 1“ and does not say anything in the excerpts from the conversation that are released. Hypothetically, it is also possible that, if the person on the recording is not Georgieva, only a silhouette from behind is released to mislead the audience that it is her. Whether there will be more recordings - I cannot say.
- The two videos at the moment, although their authenticity has not been confirmed except for the figure of Petyo Euro, raise a very serious question. How is the Bulgarian European Prosecutor chosen? Two are eliminated, and the third wins. Isn't that how it happened?
- In reality, what is being commented on in the post is happening - the other two candidates for the position are in some form eliminated from the competition. Desislava Pironeva is withdrawing herself because she was appointed Deputy Prosecutor General while the procedure is ongoing, and Svetlana Shopova is alleged to have ended up after Georgieva at some point, although she was initially ranked ahead of her. At least that's what was claimed in media publications years ago, when it was commented on how there was a scandal in the European Parliament with the selection of European prosecutors from Belgium, Bulgaria and Portugal. For example, in a 2021 publication by Juraktiv on the subject, it is said that "in the case of Belgium, Bulgaria and Portugal, however, the decisions of the selection committee were overturned by a ministerial decision and in the end, candidates who were not the first choice were nominated."
- How do you personally view these two posts? Do they seem authentic to you…
- I can't say for sure whether they are authentic from the point of view of Georgieva's participation specifically. But the lack of refutation from her so far seems to indicate that, unfortunately, this is the most likely hypothesis. And that it is precisely a recording from a camera in a room with the presence of Petyo Petrov, seems quite credible to me.
- To the woman Pepi, the Euro addresses: “We are here, Teddy…“ How many more Teddys have been recorded and is this video a message to many others who sat on the chair against the Euro…
- Of course, this “chilling effect“ is currently available to all people in positions of power who were in the room in question (or somewhere else in a similar situation) and who now have no doubt that their meetings with Petrov, at which their promotions were negotiated, and perhaps envelopes were also handed out, were recorded.
And these recordings may come out at some point if they allow themselves to deviate from the right path.
These dependencies are a huge problem for the exercise of power in Bulgaria and that is precisely why the institutional unraveling of the “Eight Dwarfs“ case was so important. Unfortunately, nothing of the sort happened and those who hold the recordings can currently model the exercise of power through the dependencies of people on the recordings who formally occupy the relevant positions, where things should happen with their signatures.
- Petyo Petrov – The Euro is wanted, but it releases videos. Could this happen in another EU country…
- I doubt that the videos are being released by Petyo Petrov. In my opinion, they are being held by the people who acquired the database collected by him and people from his circle after his disappearance. The same thing happened with the database of the other influence broker in the judiciary, who was exposed by the Anti-Corruption Fund - the late Martin Bozanov - the Notary.